“The Quiet Man” is a 1952 award-winning film. John Ford directs outstanding performances by John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. But watch the film with modern eyes. We see Wayne treating O’Hara with violence that would get him arrested. He shoves her around, kicks her in the rear, throws her to the ground, and grabs her arms repeatedly. It’s lucky she wears long sleeves; there must be bruises. Forget about the character – what about the actress? Did she sign up to be a punching bag?

Oh yes, we’ve come a long way since then. Physical violence is unacceptable. Women have greatly increased roles in many professions. But many more are raising children alone, or have no children, only a career – which may end at age 50, leaving the woman with nothing. To top things off, we have biologic males using women’s bathrooms and locker rooms without their permission or even warning, then stealing sports medals, scholarships, and endorsements.

Have we really come a long way for women’s rights? Or have we merely exchanged one form of abuse for another? Are not men still telling women what is good for them, then enforcing their will? The female MMA fighter sent to the hospital by the trans fighter? The female swimmer deprived of first place by the trans swimmer? I’m not so sure we have a lot to boast about.

How about letting Tamikka Brents decide if she wants to fight a biological male? How about letting Riley Gaines decide if she wants to swim against a biological male? How about letting girls decide if they want to share their locker rooms? Let women decide? What a novel idea.